Brilliant piece. I’ve always thought this common idea of the 50s housewife being treated as some universal historical female experience was really unfounded.. I meet so many people who seem to think this is some kind of norm when clearly it isn’t. Of course women got depressed spending most of their time alone with young children.. it’s not because they don’t like spending time with their children, but traditionally women would be working and socialising with other adults at the same time as doing childcare, which ticks all the boxes of a fulfilling life. Even in tribal societies you don’t see women working all alone in a hut with their kids, they are in groups of women chatting and working while older kids help look after younger ones. Communal parenting is the way to go, and projects that allow a combination of childcare and other pursuits.
Aaron Kevali
2 years ago
The suburbs are very empty and lonely places during the day. I can see why a wife would want some interaction other than a courteous ‘hello’ at the grocery store checkout.
Maggie Kelly
2 years ago
I wish I could assign this piece to approximately six tradfriends and several dead popes, as well as to all the dudes who write for OnePeterFive.
Grace Darling
11 months ago
I agree with the analysis, but the suggested solutions seems to fall short – where is the husband and extended family in the ‘tradewife’ model? Where is the shared household / family enterprise?
Cheryl Zacharias
6 days ago
Excellent article! Even more relevant now, four years later. Please write more about this topic, MH! If only you weren’t so prescient–this article would be really hitting the spot if it had only just been posted.
Brilliant piece. I’ve always thought this common idea of the 50s housewife being treated as some universal historical female experience was really unfounded.. I meet so many people who seem to think this is some kind of norm when clearly it isn’t. Of course women got depressed spending most of their time alone with young children.. it’s not because they don’t like spending time with their children, but traditionally women would be working and socialising with other adults at the same time as doing childcare, which ticks all the boxes of a fulfilling life. Even in tribal societies you don’t see women working all alone in a hut with their kids, they are in groups of women chatting and working while older kids help look after younger ones. Communal parenting is the way to go, and projects that allow a combination of childcare and other pursuits.
The suburbs are very empty and lonely places during the day. I can see why a wife would want some interaction other than a courteous ‘hello’ at the grocery store checkout.
I wish I could assign this piece to approximately six tradfriends and several dead popes, as well as to all the dudes who write for OnePeterFive.
I agree with the analysis, but the suggested solutions seems to fall short – where is the husband and extended family in the ‘tradewife’ model? Where is the shared household / family enterprise?
Excellent article! Even more relevant now, four years later. Please write more about this topic, MH! If only you weren’t so prescient–this article would be really hitting the spot if it had only just been posted.